This book documents many of the legends regarding vampirism dating from ancient Greek and Roman times. It covers a vast geographical area of Europe, including England and Ireland, and includes topics on the creation, powers, and desctuction of vampires as recorded in various folklore and myth. Summers' surprisingly informative footnotes make this an interesting starting point for those wishing to delve deeper into the mythology of vampirism. Summers' writing can be verbose at times, and he tends to quote entire passages in full from his sources, which can sometimes be a benefit but at others an annoyance. However, the sheer amount of information contained here can be worth the effort.

Montague Summers was an eccentric 20th century occult historian who was one of the first authors to do serious studies of the occult and its role in history. Summers' went on to write another interesting book on vampirism "The Vampire: His Kith and Kin" in 1929 which may be of interest to readers of this book. He is also the author of a large body of works on the history of witchcraft and demonology including translations of many early 16th and 17th century works on the occult.


The European Vampire Legend.   December 23, 2005
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

_The Vampire in Lore and Legend_ by Roman Catholic priest Reverend Montague Summers is a republication of the book _The Vampire in Europe_ by Dover Press, a sequel to Summers' previous work on vampires. Montague Summers was a fascinating character whose opposition to the modern day skeptical rationalist is apparent in all his writings on folklore and the occult. Summers is best known for his writings on witchcraft, in which he took the extreme position of the medievalist, but also for his writings on vampires and werewolves. This book outlines the vampire legend as it appeared in various European nations relating this legend to the folklore and tradition of these countries. The profound learning of the author is revealed throughout, who provides original source material in many of the archaic languages of ancient Europe.

Summers begins by discussing the vampire in Greece and Rome. Here he mentions such classical writers as Pliny, as well as noting the vile influence of the wicked lamia. Summers also mentions the rites associated with All Soul's Day and the various events which ensued during that holy day. Summers also notes the importance of days associated with Saint Agnes' Eve and Saint Anne's day in folklore and legend. As a Roman Catholic priest, Summers frequently mentions the important role of the various saints in the formation of the faithful, as well as the relationship between the days associated with these saints and legends concerning the undead. Summers also turns his attention to ancient Rome, as well as noticing various events associated with the Greek Orthodox Church and its treatment of the dead. Following this discussion, Summers turns his attention to the vampire in England and Ireland. Here he mentions various saints, many of whom rose from the dead, as well as the rites of excommunication. Summers also mentions more modern day cases of vampirism in England as well. In addition, Summers mentions certain cases of vampirism as they occurred in France, Italy, and other Latin lands. After completing this discussion, Summers turns his attention to the vampire legend in Hungary and Czecho-slovakia. Here, Summers mentions further material from these lands on the vampire legend, as well as including an historical survey on the "manducation of the dead". Following this, Summers turns his attention to the vampire in modern Greece. Here, Summers notes the use of the word "vrykolakas" to describe the vampire (or originally believed as a word to describe the were-wolf, though later taken over by the vampire legend). Finally, Summers turns his attention to the vampire in Russia, Roumania, and Bulgaria. Again, he notes the presence of the vampire in these Eastern European lands and the growth of his legend.

Summers' work provides an excellent source and accounting of the vampire legend throughout Europe. Summers remains unequivocally opposed to the modernist and skeptical understanding which denies the reality of vampirism. Indeed, for Summers the vampire is very real and his legend is rooted in fact. The vampire is also closely related to witchcraft, and in his work Summers repeatedly emphasizes the fact that the vampire may spring forth from the mating of the Devil and a witch. Summers also notes that those who are excommunicated and die in such a state or who are suicides are more likely to become vampires. In addition, those who are were-wolves during their life are more likely to become vampires once dead. This book provides a fascinating accounting of the legend concerning the vampire and provides unique sources from the folklore of various European countries.



The Vampire in Lore and Legend......   August 1, 2005
 8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I've studied Vampire Folklore and the like for some 20 years of my life so far. While I have a ton of material on them, it wasn't until recently that I come across a book by Montague Summers which is, of course, The Vampire in Lore and Legend. Out of all the books and material that I've read, this book has to be the most insightful and complete study on Vampires that I've ever read. As you may have read in other reviews, it covers a vast amount of the legends regarding vampirism dating from ancient Greek and Roman times, as well as in England during Anglo-Saxon times, in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Russia, Romania, and Bulgaria. While I don't know much about Montague Summers(other than the fact that he's a leading authority on witchcraft and occult phenomena), one thing I do know is he gives you a deep in-depth look at Vampire History & Folklore in this book. I'll agree with Matthew Schweitzer in his review that this book is a great starting point for those wishing to delve deeper into
the mythology of Vampirism. Since coming across this book, I've read some of his other novels, as well, that covers Witchcraft and Demonology. I find it a great pleasure to read his books on things I've always wanted to know more about. I think you will, too.


"The Vampire In Lore And Legend" is hard to ascertain at times, but it's still worth the read:   May 26, 2007
 2 out of 4 found this review helpful

Montague Summers was a gothic individual in a category all his own. His belief in vampires is unequivocal. So unequivocal in fact that after reading this book you may become a believer. Montague is the proverbial raconteur of vampire lore. He successfully amalgamates antiquities and mythologies to fit his morose belief system. His hypothesis about the existence of vampires can be construed as anecdotal hyperboles, or should I accurately state, "the ravings of a madman considering that he undoubtedly believed in vampires!"
However, each story that Summers shares is interesting. One anecdote that grabbed my undivided attention was the story of M.

The story begins in Ireland with a cleric who was a member of the family of --M. He was a rather inoffensive fellow and was a loyal cleric of the Catholic Church, and it just so happened that he was a hospitable person when strangers arrived into town. He was a generous individual who placed beds in his little parochial home for the disposal of late night travelers who were in need of a place to stay. At any rate, he didn't have many acquaintances, and nobody ever took the time to visit and break bread with him.
Now here's the crux of the tale; this lonely yet charming gentleman passed away on his 50th birthday when he suddenly became ill.

Too make a long story short I'll just get to the meat and potatoes of this old legend.

After the funeral was over his body was returned to his mother's home for the family had a tradition of burying their members in the humble rocky graveyard on the hilltop. Subsequently they brought the body to the grave sight, and buried it, and when the mourners departed some three hours later this individual (the Catholic Cleric) appeared behind them walking down the pathway. There couldn't possibly have been a mistake about it the Cleric was right behind them. However he wasn't wearing the same attire he was buried in. He was sporting a decent black frock coat and garments.
As the sheer terror of this morose unfeasibility started to draw closer everyone gazed upon this dreaded paradoxical phantasm with fangs dripping sanguineous fluid. This was when they (the Mourners) all scurried back to the mother's home.
Of course the Cleric's mother never attend the burial service, but shortly there after the Mourners arrived at her home and found her sprawled out in the middle of the floor unconscious. So without hesitation they broke into the home, and tried to revive her. They succeeded in waking her, and when she woke, she then shared with them what she witnessed, that her son came home, that he was alive yet not quite the same. He was one of the ethereal!... One of the undead.

This was one of many stories and investigations that Summers discusses in his book. There is a lot of great stuff here to keep you buried in vampire/occult academia for years to come. If you can get past the Latin and other languages used in the book considering 1/6 of the book is written in several foreign languages.
Moreover, Summers manages to cover a wide array of Western-European legends as well as Greco-Roman, Hungarian, Czechoslovakian and Russian. There are hundreds of tales that will astonish your proclivities for the macabre.
"Montague Summers The Vampire In Lore And Legend" is the bible of vampire nostalgia.